Banjar and Lovina are two picturesque towns located on the northern coast of Bali, offering a quieter and less crowded alternative to the more heavily tourist-populated areas of the island.

Our villa in Banjar was situated on a hillside, offering a stunning view of the surrounding area. In the mornings, we could watch the sunrise and see countless fishing boats heading out to sea at dawn. During the day, it was incredibly peaceful, especially when gazing at the horizon where the lighter shade of the sky almost blended with the darker blue of the ocean, creating a harmonious and pleasant experience.

  Photo: Sunrise and pool at the villa in Banjar

Photo: Blue sky over the villa in Banjar

We had a favourite spot here for our breakfasts, where we often ate locally bought papayas, dragon fruits, and pineapples, usually paired with oatmeal or oat pancakes. In Banjar, we had to prepare breakfast ourselves, which, as always, had its pros and cons. We gained more privacy at the expense of having to slice a few fruits. Taking a break from the served breakfasts in Candidasa suited us well.

Photo: Breakfast at the villa in Banjar

Evenings were spent by or in the pool, admiring the orange-pink sunsets. Later, on the other side of the house, we could enjoy the view of a perfectly black sky, without any artificial light pollution. I love stargazing, and the sky in the southern hemisphere seemed completely different from what I was used to in Europe.

Photo: Sunset in our Villa in Banjar

Checking out a local gem

Just a stone’s throw away across the road, there was a warung where Marianna and her mom discovered delicious noodle cakes with tofu and Balinese coffee, served to-go in a plastic bag. The prices at warungs in Bali, especially those catering to locals, can be pleasantly surprising. We paid about 50 groszy (0.50 PLN) for one noodle cake, and the price of coffee was around 1.25 złotych (1.25 PLN). The Balinese coffee served here was in a bag, as is typical. Balinese coffee is usually filled to about half a cup and is very sweet.

Photo: Warung across the street

The entire warung was built from bamboo, and the floor slightly bent underfoot. Visiting such a place was an experience in itself. We were served by a very kind lady, who was somewhat surprised by our visit. It wasn’t a popular spot among foreigners; mostly locals came there for takeout food.

Photo: Inside the warung